Thursday, July 13, 2017

Welcome Tony and Kris!

Knoxville radio history is made each and every day...this week the baton is being passed at the premier broadcast spot in East Tennessee, the 6-10a morning slot at WIVK 107.7.

The verbiage is that the new tandem "Tony and Kris" will be the 4th morning show on WIVK. This is not 100% accurate although Claude Tomlinson did sign the station on the air for the first time on March 20, 1953. In the mid 60's Kenny Dearstone joined WIVK around the same time the FM signal was added. Kenny became the morning DJ with Norman Majors on the news mic, Claude shifted to the 10a-noon slot. In 1972 Claude returned to morning drive as Kenny exited to manage a station in Greeneville TN.

Since 1972 the AM drive has been mic'd by Claude until his retirement in 1992, Wilhite and Wall for the next 5 years, and Andy and Alison, who wrap up 20 years on Friday with many national awards in their treasure chest.

So enter stage left...Tony and Kris! In 1991 the duo teamed up at a small Alabama station, WHMA-FM. Fast forward to their "big and quick break", only 10 months in to their partnership they flew the coup to the left coast and began a morning show in major market San Diego at KSON-FM. After a 10 year run at KSON-FM and an ACM award as major market DJs of the year, they moved across town to rival KUSS. 5 years later the duo shifted in to a syndicated show...which ran until 2 months ago...and the rest is croackin' history!